Ash Regan MSP introduced this Member’s Bill. The Bill creates a new offence of paying for sexual acts. It also repeals the existing offence of soliciting or importuning by prostitutes.
This is a Member's bill
The Bill fell on 3 February 2026 at Stage 1
This Bill fell at Stage 1 of the process to decide if it should become an Act.
The Bill creates a new offence of paying for sexual acts.
The Bill also repeals the existing offence under section 46 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 of soliciting and importuning by prostitutes. People who have been convicted of this offence in the past would have their convictions quashed.
Additionally, Scottish Ministers will need to ensure that a person who is, or has been, in prostitution is provided with help and support. That may include accommodation, financial assistance, healthcare or legal advice and representation.
The Member believes that prostitution is exploiting and harming women in Scotland. She has introduced the Bill as she believes it will reduce the amount of prostitution in Scotland.
Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill as introduced (412KB, pdf) posted 20 May 2025
Explanatory Notes (147KB, pdf) posted 21 May 2025
Policy Memorandum (534KB, pdf) posted 21 May 2025
Financial Memorandum (310KB, pdf) posted 21 May 2025
Delegated Powers Memorandum (137KB, pdf) posted 21 May 2025
Statements on legislative competence (108KB, pdf) posted 21 May 2025
Explanatory Notes (211KB, pdf) posted 20 May 2025
Policy Memorandum (580KB, pdf) posted 20 May 2025
Financial Memorandum (357KB, pdf) posted 20 May 2025
Delegated Powers Memorandum (213KB, pdf) posted 20 May 2025
Statements on legislative competence (159KB, pdf) posted 20 May 2025
All Bills introduced in the Parliament must be accompanied by specific documents. For most Bills, this includes:
Explanatory Notes: this document provides an overview of what the Bill does, plus a more detailed explanation of individual provisions.
Policy Memorandum: this sets out the objectives of the Bill. It also lists any alternatives considered, details of consultations, and an assessment of the effects of the Bill on a range of areas.
Financial Memorandum: this sets out estimates of costs, savings, and any changes to revenues expected to result from the Bill.
Delegated Powers Memorandum: this is needed if a Bill gives powers to make subordinate legislation or allows Scottish Ministers to issue directions, guidance or codes of practice.
Statements on legislative competence: two short statements, one by the Presiding Officer and one by the Member introducing the Bill. “Legislative competence” means the powers the Parliament has to make law.
The Presiding Officer has decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is required for this Bill.
For each Bill, the Presiding Officer must decide if a 'Financial Resolution' is required. The main reasons a Bill would need a Financial Resolution are that:
If a Bill requires a Financial Resolution:
The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.
Research briefing on the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill
The Bill was introduced on 20 May 2025
At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.
On 26 November 2025, Parliament agreed motion S6M-19923, that consideration of the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1 be completed by 16 January 2026.
On 14 January 2026, Parliament agreed motion S6M-20424, that consideration of the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1 be extended to 6 February 2026.
The lead committee for this Bill is the Criminal Justice Committee.
The lead committee will usually examine the Bill through evidence sessions. This will involve contributions from individuals and organisations, known as 'witnesses', with knowledge of the subject matter. The committee might also discuss the Bill in private sessions.
The Criminal Justice Committee held a call for views to help inform its scrutiny of the Bill. The call for views closed on Friday 5 September 2025.
Read the submissions on Citizen Space
Read the Official Report of the meeting
Read the Official Report of the meeting
Read the Official Report of the meeting
Read the Official Report of the meeting
Read the Official Report of the meeting
Read the Official Report of the meeting
Read the Official Report of the meeting
Committees sometimes meet in private. This might be to hear confidential or particularly sensitive information, or to discuss a draft report. When a committee meets in private, its proceedings are not broadcast and there is no Official Report. However, the committee minutes will record the business taken and any decisions reached.
The Committee arranged to receive the personal evidence of individuals with lived experience. This was done in a trauma-informed manner and based on how they wished to share their views with the Committee. This process was underpinned by advice and feedback from the support organisations we approached.
The Women’s Support Project facilitated interviews at which the Committee’s questions were put to a group of seven individuals.
Read a note of the main issues raised (163KB, pdf) posted 20 November 2025
Committee Members met a group of individuals with lived experience of sex work at an informal meeting facilitated by Scotland for Decrim.
Read a note of the main issues raised (134KB, pdf) posted 20 November 2025
SPICe summary of submissions from lived experience individuals which were received as part of the Committee’s public Call for Views on the Bill.
Read the SPICe summary (174KB, pdf) posted 10 November 2025
Letter from the Minister for Victims and Community Safety, 2 February 2026
Submission from Police Scotland, 2 February 2026
Response from Ash Regan MSP, Member in Charge of the Bill, 30 January 2026
Response from Ash Regan MSP, Member in Charge of the Bill, 30 January 2026
Response from Ash Regan MSP, Member in Charge of the Bill, 30 January 2026
See a full list of Stage 1 correspondence for this committee
The lead committee published its Stage 1 report on 23 January 2026.
The Committee received the following responses to its report:
Read the response from Ash Regan MSP, Member in Charge of the Bill - Executive Summary (94KB, pdf) posted 02 February 2026
Read the response from Ash Regan MSP, Member in Charge of the Bill (267KB, pdf) posted 02 February 2026
Read the response Ash Regan MSP, Member in Charge of the Bill - Annexe (1MB, pdf) posted 02 February 2026
Read the response from the Scottish Government (197KB, pdf) posted 02 February 2026
If a Bill is relevant to more than one committee, 'secondary committees' may consider and report on the general principles of the Bill to the lead committee. Some Bills may also be considered by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee or the Finance and Public Administration Committee.
Read the Official Report of the meeting
The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee published its report on 30 October 2025.
Letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, 1 October 2025
A Stage 1 debate took place on 3 February 2026 to consider and decide on the general principles of the Bill.
Read the minutes of proceedings (244KB, pdf) posted 03 February 2026
Result 54 for, 64 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote Disagreed
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 1 on 3 February 2026
The Bill fell at Stage 1 on 3 February 2026.
If MSPs do not agree with what a Bill is trying to do, they can vote against it at the end of Stage 1 or at Stage 3. If a majority of MSPs vote against a Bill then it will not pass and it ‘falls’.
Bills can also fall if they have not completed Stage 3 by the end of a Parliamentary session. These Bills can be reintroduced in the next session and the process would begin again from the start.